Drama aplenty in ASB Chatham Cup quarters

The quarterfinals of the 85th ASB Chatham Cup provided their fair share of knockout football drama as Lower Hutt City, Miramar Rangers, Caversham and Central United all won through the final four on Sunday.

Lower Hutt celebrate reaching the final four of the ASB Chatham Cup. www.photosport.co.nz

July 22, 2012

AUCKLAND – The quarterfinals of the 85th ASB Chatham Cup provided their fair share of knockout football drama as Lower Hutt City, Miramar Rangers, Caversham and Central United all won through the final four on Sunday.

Missed penalties, an own goal, red cards – including one to a coach – and plenty of goals punctuated a round that also marred by a badly broken leg to Manukau City goalkeeper Sergio Bustos.

Lower Hutt City and Birkenhead United played out a 3-2 thriller on Auckland’s North Shore with Hamish Watson putting the visitors in front with less than two minutes on the clock, tapping home after his penalty was tipped on to the post.

Pomare Te Anau doubled the lead nine minutes later but Ashley Crawford’s goal had Birkenhead back in the game just before halftime.

The home side built on that momentum after the break and drew level through Jack Salter but were caught on the break with ten minutes remaining when a Watson effort was parried by John Fletcher, but only as far as substitute Taban Makoii  to net what would prove to be winner.

Birkenhead thought they had equalised again from a corner only for the referee to rule the ball hadn’t crossed the line and their frustration boiled over when coach Paul Hobson was sent from the bench for dissent.

Central United beat Eastern Suburbs 2-0 but both teams finished with ten men at Kiwitea Street in Auckland with Central enjoying the early numerical advantage thanks to Michael Buhagiar’s 13th minute dismissal for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity.

Earnest Wong saved Jason Hicks’ spot kick to keep the sides level and also saved Emiliano Tade’s 40th minute penalty only for the Argentine to convert the rebound.

Tade grabbed a second four minutes into the second spell to have Central seemingly in control although Nick Dale’s 58th minute red card at least restored parity in the playing stocks for the final half hour.

A late flurry of goals in Wellington helped Miramar Rangers see off the challenge of Dunedin Technical 5-1 although Miramar’s first came from the visitors with a shot deflected off a Tech defender into the top corner in just the fourth minute.
Victor Da Costa headed in from a corner to equalise in the 24th minute but Sam Mason Smith restored Miramar’s advantage two minutes later.

Patrick Fleming’s 77th minute goal broke the back of the visitors with Mason Smith grabbing a second and Dominic Rowe also netting in the last few minutes to pad out the score.

Meanwhile in Dunedin, Caversham edged past a spirited Manukau City side at the Caledonian but had to do so with ten men for most of the second half.

Matt Bruin’s last ditch foul early in the second half earned him an early shower and allowed Rhys Ruka to reduce the score to 2-1 from the penalty spot following first half goals to Caversham’s Ant Hancock and Andrew Ridden.

Hancock struck again nine minutes after the turnaround but Manukau, who play in the third tier of Northern League football, would not lie down and made the home side work for their place in Monday morning’s semi final draw.

A nasty 50-50 challenge between Caversham striker Tom Jackson and Manukau City goalkeeper Sergio Bustos resulted in the latter being hospitalised with a broken leg, with play subdued upon return from a lengthy delay while Bustos was treated on the pitch.

The final of the ASB Chatham Cup is scheduled for August 26.

ASB Chatham Cup 2012
Quarterfinals Results

At Shepherds Park, Auckland
Birkenhead United 2 (Ashley CRAWFORD 45’, Jack SALTER 67’)
Lower Hutt City 3 (Hamish WATSON 2’, Pomare TE ANAU 11’, Taban MAKOII 80’)
Halftime: 1-2
Hamish WATSON (Lower Hutt) missed pen 2’
Paul HOBSON (Birkenhead coach) red card 85’

At Caledonian, Dunedin
Caversham 3 (Ant HANCOCK 35’, 54’; Andrew RIDDEN 45’)
Manukau City 1 (Rhys RUKA pen-48’)
Halftime: 1-0
Matt BRUIN (Caversham) red card 48’

At David Farrington Park, Wellington      
Miramar Rangers 5 (Own goal 4’, Sam MASON-SMITH 26’, 84; Patrick FLEMING 77’, Dominic ROWE 87’)
Dunedin Technical 1 (Victor DA COSTA 24’)
Halftime: 2-1

At Kiwitea Street, Auckland
Central United 2 (Emiliano TADE 40’, 49’)
Eastern Suburbs 0
Halftime: 1-0
Michael BUHAGIAR (Suburbs) red card 13’
Jason HICKS (central) missed pen 13’
Emiliano TADE (Central) missed pen 40’
Nick DALE (Central) red card 58’

Full results from this seasons ASB Chatham Cup